upcoming qcas events - Quad City Audubon Society

UPCOMING QCAS EVENTS
Vol. 27, No 5
September—October 2016
Monthly meetings are the second Thursday of each month September through May, 7:00 pm Butterworth Center,
1105 8th Street, Moline, IL.
September 8, 2016, Thursday - Monthly Meeting : Jon Stravers, Director of Driftless Area Bird Conservation, will
present a program: "Observations: Red-Shouldered Hawks to Cerulean Warblers and the Connections In Between".
September 18, Sunday - Field Trip to Wildcat Den and surrounding area for many possible migrants. Lots of
surprises on this trip last year! This trip will meet at Buffalo Shores at 7:00 a.m. Possible steep hikes and trails,
duration half day, with lunch option at Fairport, Iowa. RSVP to Dick Sayles at 563-676-9616 by Sept. 10.
October 8, Saturday - Field Trip to Credit Island, Nahant Marsh and Sunderburch Park. Meet at Sunderbruch
Park at 7:00 a.m. Last year we had some fungi surprises at Sunderbruch Park and Green Herons at Credit Island.
This trip will be half day and may include steep trails, but, walking them is not required to enjoy this trip.
October 13, Thursday - Monthly Meeting: Heather Herakovich, PhD Candidate, will present a program:
"The effects of bison reintroduction on grassland bird nest success at Nachusa Grasslands."
October 22, Saturday - Field Trip to Crow Creek Park in Bettendorf, Iowa. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the north entrance by the Quarry. Duration of this trip 3 hours, very easy walking. Last year we had a very photogenic
Barred Owl, and many late migrants, and beautiful year round residents.
November 6, Sunday - Field Trip to Smith's Island Lock and Dam 14 near Le Claire, Iowa. Meet at 8:00 at
Parking Lot at Lock and Dam 14 (Iowa Side). Duration 3 hours, possible lunch option and further birding at Lost
Grove Lake.
November 10, Thursday - Monthly Meeting: Ecologist, Cornelia F. Mutel, senior science writer at IIHRHydroscience & Engineering at the University of Iowa College of Engineering, will discuss her newest book, "A
Sugar Creek Chronicle Observing Climate Change from a Midwestern Woodland, University of Iowa Press, 2016.
If you have questions about any of these field trips, call Dick Sayles at 563-676-9616.
The Quad City Audubon Society is a Chapter of National Audubon Society
OFFICERS
September-October 2016
President
Dick Sayles-2016
(563) 381-2390
Vice President
Tim Murphy—2016
(309) 764-9779
Treasurer
Walt Zuurdeeg—2015
(563)324-4664
Secretary
Judy Hartley-2015
[email protected]
BOARD MEMBERS
JoAnn Whitmore-2015
(309) 797-3727
Jody Millar-2016
[email protected]
Cathy Konrad-2016
(563) 332-5872
Cathy White-2017
(612) 991-7517
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Conservation
Carol Rogers
(563)324-8897
Pat Carlson
(309)793-4131
Education
Jody Millar
[email protected]
Field Trips
Dick Sayles
(563) 381-2390
Membership
Walt Zuurdeeg
(563)324-4664
Newsletter
Jody Millar
[email protected]
Publicity
Vacant
Mississippi Currents is
published bi-monthly
by the
Quad City
Audubon Society
P.O. Box 81
Bettendorf, IA 52722
quadcityaudubon.org
Jon Stravers
by Tim Murphy
Jon Stravers, a.k.a. Hawk is one of those people
I am honored to know. He has as a degree from Central
Iowa University , but is a bird researcher by passion and
experience as much as from formal education. Jon credits his immersion in the natural world in part to a path of
recovery following his service in Viet Nam. He credits
his interest in birds to a mentor, Gladys Black. He is
charismatic, engaging and an excellent musician. But
above all he is a committed environmentalist.
Jon Stravers
When I first met Jon, he was conducting research
Photo provided by Jon Stravers
on Red-shouldered Hawks in Milan Bottoms for the US
Army Corps of Engineers. As a result of his research, The Corps’ timber management
practices were changed based on his knowledge of breeding birds and their ecological
needs, much of which was unknown in this area.
Since then, he has also conducted research in the Driftless Area of northeast Iowa
and with Dr. Paul Skrade on the Cerulean Warbler. The Cerulean Warbler is in severe
decline due to habitat loss in much of its range. However Jon managed to find good
numbers of breeding pairs in the Driftless Area, with a great many of those in the Yellow
River State Forest. As a result of this, in part, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation gathered $1.5 million from public and private resources to add important additional habitat to
the Yellow River State Forest, now called the Paint Creek Unit. In addition the Iowa
DNR decided to manage large walnut trees for cerulean breeding rather than for timber
production. In 2014 Yellow River/Effigy Mounds became Iowa's first recognized Important Bird Area.
When taking time off from bird research, Jon likes to play music and help write
books. He has co-authored "Gladys Black, the Legacy of Iowa's Bird Lady, "Sylvan
Runkel, Citizen of the Natural World", and the "Raptors of Iowa".
In 2008, Jon received the Upper Mississippi River Stewardship Award from the Department of Interior, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, for
contributions to expand the understanding of important bird habitats on the Upper Mississippi
River National Fish & Wildlife Refuge. In 2009,
Jon received the Effigy Mounds National Monument and Iowa DNR Wildlife Diversity award for
25 years of outstanding contributions to raptor research at Effigy Mounds National Monument.
I greatly encourage QCAS members and
the public to attend Jon's presentation September 8,
2016. He is an entertaining lecturer. His enthusiasm and message should not be missed.
Members dues were used in part to provide
Cerulean Warbler, Photo by Stark
funding for Jon's study of Cerulean Warblers.
Mississippi Currents
September-October 2016
Pelican Festival—Coralville Reservoir, September 13, 2016
Iowa’s American Pelican Festival will
be held on Sunday, September 13, from 11:00
a.m. to 4:00 p. m.. The location for the festival
is on the northwest side of Coralville Reservoir,
at the Hawkeye Wildlife Area, 2564 Amana
Road NW, Swisher, Iowa. The festival will
center around large migratory flocks of American White Pelicans that stop to feed and rest at
the Coralville Reservoir. Guides from local
birding groups will be on hand to help with
viewing the birds, using binoculars and spotting
scopes for public viewing.
Besides pelican viewing, there will be
short
talks
presented from 12:30—3 p.m. on
Yellowthroat Photo by Mitch Davis
such topics as fish of Coralville Reservoir, Ornate Box Turtles, freshwater mussels, and, of
course, pelicans. The festival expects at least 15
vendors displaying exhibits on conservation,
nature, and outdoor activities. Iowa Audubon
will feature a silent auction of bird-related items
American White Pelican Photo by Jody Millar
with proceed going to the group’s conservation
programs. Indian Creek Nature Center will offer nature-themed gift items for sale, and Boy Scouts will will
provide food and drinks for purchase. There will also be face painting for the kids.
Make the trip to this great September 13, 2016 event, sponsored by Iowa Audubon, Iowa City Bird
Club, Cedar Rapids Audubon, US Army Corps of Engineers, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
by Jody Millar from IowaAudubon.org
Birds Love Our National Parks - Celebrate the Centennial!
On August 25, 2016, the National Park Service turned 100 years! One way to help celebrate is to
bird-watch in our National Parks and report on the wonderful birds you see. In Iowa, Effigy Mounds National Monument and its Heritage Addition contain habitat designated as a globally important bird area. At
the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 81 acres of tall grass prairie have been restored with many of the
less common species of sparrows found there. In Illinois, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site is a
12.28-acre unit with log homes and native flora that are attractive to many birds. Three National Historic
Trails cross Illinois. These are the Lewis and Clark, Mormon Pioneer, and Trail of Tears National Historic
Trails. Following one of these Trails and birding along the way might make for a nice trip. As a bonus,
there is free admission to all 413 national parks from August 25-28, 2016. If you missed this opportunity,
don't forget if you are 62 or older, you can buy a Senior Pass for $10 that is accepted at most Federal parks.
Passes can be purchased online and at many Federal locations including the Corps of Engineers Ranger
Headquarters in Pleasant Valley, Iowa.
By Jody Millar
Mississippi Currents
Membership Application
Mission Statement
I would like to join/renew as a member of the National
Audubon Society and my local chapter. Please send me
Audubon Magazine, Mississippi Currents, and my
membership card. Enclosed is my check for $20 payable to
National Audubon Society. (include Chapter # C4ZH630Z on
your check)
The Quad City Audubon Society is dedicated
to the enjoyment of birds; a better
understanding of the natural world;
stewardship of natural areas and habitats;
fellowship; improvement of community
awareness of environmental issues; and
education of youth for the benefit of future
generations.
OR
I would like to join/renew only as a member of Quad City
Audubon in lieu of National Audubon. Please send me
Mississippi Currents. Enclosed is my check for $10 payable to
Quad City Audubon.
Name_________________________________________
Address_______________________________________
City___________________ State______ Zip__________
Phone________________________
Email_________________________________________
Send to:
Quad City Audubon Society
P.O. Box 81
Bettendorf, IA 52722
Thanks to those who contributed to this issue of the
Mississippi Currents. The next deadline is October 15,
2016. Submissions are gladly accepted. Send to:
Jody Millar
[email protected]
Visit us online at:
www.quadcityaudubon.org